Money handling mechanism with peripheral port

ABSTRACT

A money handling mechanism  110  has a first port P 1  for connection to a machine controller  130  and a second port P 2  to which further money handling mechanisms can be connected. Different types of mechanism, such as a card acceptor  70  or a bill validator  100,  can be connected to the second port P 2  over a bus B. The first port P 1  may be connected to one of several interface adapters  410  to  416,  and the communications protocol used is selected accordingly. If the first port P 1  uses the same protocol as the second port P 2,  signals are passed transparently between the first port P 1  and the second port P 2.  Signals from the additional mechanism may be modified to be recognisable by the controller  130.  The money handling mechanism  110  may convert between the denominations of currencies represented in the protocols over the first and second ports P 1  and P 2.

The present invention relates to a mechanism for handling money.

Coin or bill handling mechanisms are typically sold to manufacturers ofcomplete machines, such as vending machines, as a unit with a portconnectable to a controller within the machine. For example, a coinchanger validates coins and outputs a signal on the port indicating thevalue of acceptable coins received. The machine controller receivessignals from a user interface indicating the goods selected, determinesthe price of the goods, compares the price with the value of coinsreceived, and determines whether there has been an overpayment. If so,the machine controller sends a signal to the changer port indicating thevalue of change to be given. The changer or the machine controllerdetermine what combination of coins is to be dispensed to make up thisvalue, and the changer dispenses that combination of coins.

Certain standards have been agreed for the physical and electricalconnection of peripheral devices to machine controllers. One suchstandard is the ‘International Multi-drop Bus Interface Standard’(theMDB standard). According to this standard, the vending machinecontroller and peripheral devices are each connected to a common bus.Signals exchanged on the bus comply with a protocol defined by thestandard and allow commands to be issued to the peripherals by thevending machine controller and status reports to be sent back by theperipherals to the controller.

However, there are many vending machines already in use in which theinput/output port of the vending machine controller complies with anobsolete standard or does not support multiple peripherals, so that themachine cannot be upgraded by adding peripherals.

With the introduction of the Euro, there will be a need to addperipherals for validating Euro banknotes to machines which currentlycan accept only coins. There will also be a greatly increased need formachines to accept payment in more than one currency. Moreover. as theuse of pre-paid or debit cards becomes more widespread, but cashcontinues to be used, there will be a need to add card readers tomachines which currently accept only cash.

According to the present invention, there is provided a first moneyhandling unit which has a first port for connection to a machinecontroller and a second port for connection to a second money handlingunit. In this way, at least one further unit may be added to a machinewithout the need to alter the interface between the machine controllerand the first unit.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the second port isconnectable to any one of a number of different money handling units,and may implement a single standard interface for such a connection. Anadvantage of this arrangement is that, where the machine controller isnot able to communicate directly with multiple different types of moneyhandling unit, the first money handling unit according to this aspect ofthe invention provides the required connectivity instead.

In embodiments of the invention, the first money handling unit is achanger which validates and dispenses coins or tokens, while the secondmoney handling unit may be a banknote validator, a card reader or afurther changer, for example.

The interface across the second port may implement a different protocolfrom that implemented across the first port, and the first unit thenconverts signals between the two protocols. In this way the second unit,although incompatible with the controller, may be used in the samesystem as the controller.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the interfaces across thefirst and second port may implement the same protocol and the secondunit may be physically connectable either to the second port or directlyto the controller, for example via a bus connection. When the secondunit is connected to the second port, the first unit copies all signalsfrom the second port to the first port and copies at least those signalsaddressed to the second unit, and preferably all signals, from the firstport to the second port, while responding to signals addressed to thefirst unit on the first port. This allows the second unit to functioncorrectly when it is physically connected to the second port.

According to a third aspect of the invention, the second unit is adevice of a first type, and the first unit converts betweencommunications on the second port with the second unit andcommunications on the first port representative of a unit of a secondtype different from the first type. This allows units of the first typeto be used where the machine controller does not recognise units of thefirst type but does recognise units of the second type.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the first unitcommunicates with the controller by representing values in a firstdenomination and the first unit communicates with the second unit byrepresenting values in a second denomination, and the first unitconverts between the first and second denominations.

Arrangements embodying the invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the connections between a vendingmachine controller, a changer and further money handling units inembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal electronicarrangement of the changer;

FIG. 3 is a cut-away front view of the changer showing the coin-handlingapparatus;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a vending machine incorporating the changer;and

FIG. 5 is a partial cut-away side view of the front panel of the vendingmachine of FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, a changer 110 in an embodiment of the presentinvention has a first port P1 for connection to a vending machinecontroller 130 via a communication line C. The changer 110 receives andvalidates coins or tokens and indicates the value of the coins acceptedto the controller 130, over the first port P1. The changer 110 alsodispenses accepted coins as change, in response to commands receivedfrom the controller 130 over the first port P1. These commands mayindicate the value of change to be given, or the specific coins to begiven as change, according to the interface standard used over the firstport P1.

The changer 110 also has a second port P2 which provides an interfacecompatible with the MDB protocol. According to this protocol, paymentunits of different types can be connected to a host (in this case, thechanger 110) without having to reconfigure or reprogram the host.Instead, the host interrogates all connected devices, each of whichresponds with a code indicating the type of that device, the codes beingdefined by the MDB standard. The host is pre-programmed with a set ofcommands and responses appropriate to each type of device. The devicessupported include a card acceptor 70, a bill validator 100 and a changedispenser 105. Multiple devices of different types or of the same typecan be connected and operated simultaneously via a bus connection to thechanger 110. The pin connections of the second port P2 are as follows:

TABLE 1 Second Port MDB Pinout Pin Function 1 34 V DC (Supply fromChanger) 2 0 V DC (Supply Return) 3 Not Connected 4 Master Receive(input to changer) 5 Master Transmit (output from changer) 6 Common(Signal Return)

The second port P2 includes a physical connector 440, such as a socket,complying with the MDB standard, and an interface adaptor 430.

The changer 110 can be configured to implement any one of a number ofdifferent standard interfaces over the first port P1 in order to matchthe interface of the controller 130 to which the changer 110 is to beconnected. A separate interface adapter is provided within the changer110 for each respective standard supported by the changer. A cableconnector and a port connector appropriate for the desired standard isplugged into the appropriate interface adapter. A controller within thechanger recognises which interface adapter is in use and automaticallyruns protocol software appropriate to that standard. The software foreach standard is stored within the changer 110.

FIG. 2 shows the electronic connections within the changer 110. Amicrocontroller 400 is connected to the first through fourth interfaceadapters 410, 412, 414, 416 which convert between the low voltage inputsand outputs from the microcontroller 400 and the input and outputvoltages required respectively by first to fourth interface standardswith which the first port P1 complies according to the configuration ofthe changer. A first port connector 420 which complies with the physicalrequirements of the required interface is connected to the appropriateone of the interface adapters 410 to 416. The first port connector 420may be a plug connector extending from the changer 110 on a cable, theother end of which is connected to the appropriate interface adapter410, 412, 414, 416 by a plug and socket connection.

The first supported interface is an MDB compatible interface, whichimplements an MDB protocol to Level 3 of the First Version, Aug. 19,1994, so that the changer 110 can interoperate with the controller 130if the latter operates to level 2 or 3. The controller 130 issuescommands to pay out coins either of a specified type or to a specifiedvalue, to change the mode of operation of the changer, and to requestspecific status information from the changer. The MDB protocol supports16 different coin values, with the maximum value of the largest coinbeing 255 times the value of the smallest coin. The first port connector420 is connected to the first interface adapter 410, and comprises asix-way MDB connector, with pins connected as follows:

TABLE 2 MDB Connector Pinout Pin Function 1 34 V DC (supply from Host) 20 V DC (supply return) 3 Not Connected 4 Master Receive (Output fromChanger, input to Controller) 5 Master Receive (Input to Changer, outputfrom Controller) 6 COMMON (Signal return)

The MDB signal lines operate on a current loop principle. The host(controller 130) acts as a current source for both the Master Transmitand Master Receive circuits. If the host sources current into the MasterReceive loop, all connected devices can receive the transmitted data. Inorder to transmit, a device closes the loop on the Master Receive line,which is detected by the host.

The second interface supported by the second interface adapter 412complies with the Executive protocol defined by the Mars ElectronicsInternational Protocol A specification (MEI Reference No.10102-000304001-PS). The first port connector 420 then comprises anExecutive Communications Connector and an Executive Power Connector,with pin connections as follows:

TABLE 3 Executive Communications Connector Pin Function 1 TX+ 2 RX− 3RX+ 4 TX− 5 unused 6 unused 7 unused 8 unused 9 screen

TABLE 4 Executive Power Connector Pin Function 1 24 V AC 2 24 V AC 3-15Not Connected

The third interface supported by the third interface adapter 414complies with the BDV protocol defined by standard BDV001 produced bythe BVD committee. The port connector is AMP Type 350720-1 (UniversalPart Number). The pin connections are as follows:

TABLE 5 BDV Pinout Pin Function 1 DC Return 2 24 V DC 3 unused 4 unused5 TX+ 6 TX− 7 RX+ 8 RX− 9 Screen

The fourth interface adapter 416 implements both the EuropeanElectromechanical interface defined by the Mars ElectronicsInternational specification ‘European Single Price and Four PriceElectro-Mechanical Interface’ and the US electromechanical interface asdefined in ‘United States TRC One Price Electro Mechanical Interface’.The shape and pinout of the connector varies according to the type ofthe electromechanical machine. Various parameters of theelectromechanical interface are configurable by the operator.

The changer 110 receives power from the controller 130 over the firstport P1. The microcontroller 400 detects to which of the interfaceadapters 410 to 416 power is applied, identifies therefrom the type ofinterface in use. Software appropriate to that interface is thenautomatically loaded into the microcontroller 400 from a store withinthe changer 110, such as an EPROM. The software implements theappropriate protocol.

Further inputs I to the microcontroller 400 are connected to sensors forsensing the presence and/or properties of coins received by the changer110. For example, some of the sensors may be used to sense properties ofreceived coins to determine whether they are genuine, others detect theprogress of a coin through the mechanism, while others detect the levelof coins present in coin tubes from which change is dispensed. Furtheroutputs O from the microcontroller 400 are connected to mechanisms forreleasing coins to be dispensed and directing the coins into coin tubesor a reject path according to their sensed properties.

When the MDB protocol is implemented over both the first port P1 and thesecond port P2, further MDB compatible money handling units may beconnected either to the bus connection B to the second port P2, or tothe bus connection to the controller 130. The microcontroller 400detects whether a money handling unit is connected to the second port P2by sending a ‘POLL’ command on the Master Transmit line. If no responseis received within the standard time-out period, it is assumed thatthere are no units connected, and the microcontroller 400 only handlescommunications over the first port P1.

If a unit is detected as being connected, the microcontroller 400 echoesall MDB signals received on the second port P2 to the first port P1, andechoes all MDB signals received on the first port P1 to the second portP2. Preferably, the received signals are decoded, and the code valuesare stored at least temporarily in memory before being re-encodedwithout alteration, and then output. As the MDB standard is based on abus connection, the additional unit therefore operates as if it wereconnected to the bus connection of the controller 130. This mode ofoperation ensures that additional MDB devices will work correctlyregardless of whether they are connected to the controller 130 or to thechanger 110.

In an alternative, the second port P2 implements a version of the MDBprotocol not supported over the first port P1, for example to supportunits not recognised by the version of the MDB protocol implemented bythe controller 130. In that case, the microcontroller 400 only echoesthose MDB signals common to both protocols. In response to a ‘POLL’command from the controller 130, the microcontroller 400 sends a ‘POLL’command to the additional unit on the second port P2. If the additionalunit responds with a code indicating a device type not supported by thecontroller 130, the microcontroller 400 replaces this with a codeindicating a similar device type supported by the controller 130. Themicrocontroller also converts signals from the additional unit, which donot form part of the protocol supported by the controller 130, tosignals which are recognised by that protocol. For example, if theadditional unit is a receiver for an electronic ‘purse’ or smartcardfrom which payments can be both deducted and added, the changer 110 mayidentify this receiver as a prepaid or debit card to which paymentscannot be made. In this way new types of payment can be used, albeitwith limited functionality.

However, when the MDB protocol is not enabled over the first port P1,the microcontroller 400 communicates with the controller 130 over thefirst port P1 using a different protocol from that used to communicatewith the additional money handling device or devices connected to thesecond port P2. The microcontroller receives signals in the MDB protocolover the second port P2 and converts the received signals into signalsin the protocol used over the first port P1 and vice versa, using a setof conversion rules forming part of the program stored in the changer110 and run on the microcontroller 400. The controller 130 is not ableto communicate independently with the additional unit, so that themicrocontroller converts any information generated from the additionalmoney handling device so that it appears to the controller 130 to havebeen generated by the changer 110 and is in a format decodable by thecontroller 130.

In one example, a bill validator arranged to receive and validate Eurobanknotes is connected via the second port P2 to the changer 110, whichis arranged to receive and dispense British Sterling coins. The smallestbill recognised by the validator is a five Euro note. and the validatoroutputs the value of a recognised bill to the second port P2 in units offive Euros. For example, if a twenty Euro bill is validated, a valuebyte will be output with a value of 4. The changer 130 accepts 5, 10,20, 50 pence and £1 coins, and outputs values over the first port P1 inunits of 5 pence. The value of these units is set by a predeterminedscaling factor SF, which scaling factor is stored within the controller130.

For example, if a 50 pence coin is validated, this will be representedas 10 units. Hence, the units output by the changer 110 are not equal invalue to the units output by the bill validator. The microcontroller 400converts the units of the bill validator to those of the changer 110 bymultiplying by a factor input by the operator. In this case, if theexchange rate for one Euro is 70 pence, the factor will be 1/70(approximately 0.014), since 5 Euros/70=5 pence.

This factor is also used by the microcontroller 400 to convert commandsincluding a value to the appropriate units. For example, to preventacceptance of bills greater than 5 Euros, the microcontroller 400 sendsa command over the second port P2 indicating the maximum value to beaccepted, and indicates the value as ‘1’. This command may be issued inresponse to a command from the controller 130 to limit the amount ofaccumulated credit to £4 sterling. The microcontroller 400 infers fromthe value of the factor that the bill validator should not accept morethan 5.71 Euros, which is rounded down to an integral number of units,in this case one unit.

The changer 110 may accumulate credit before communicating to thecontroller 130. For example, the controller 130 may indicate to thechanger 110 the value at which the machine vends, and the changer 110may then accumulate credit until the value is reached or exceeded, atwhich point the changer 110 dispenses any change due and indicates tothe controller 130 that a vend should be made. If an additional moneyreceiving unit, such as a bill validator or card reader, is connected tothe second port P2, the changer 110 accumulates credit from that unit inaddition to the value of the coins received by the changer 110. Forexample, if the additional unit is a bill validator arranged to receiveand validate Euro banknotes, as in the example above, the validator mayreceive a five Euro bill and the changer 110 may receive a £1 coin, fora vend price of £4. The microcontroller 400 converts the one unit ofvalue indicated on the second port P2 to 70 units of 5 pence, and addsthe 20 units of 5 pence representing the £1 coin validated by thechanger 110, to give 90 units. The vend price is 80 units, so themicrocontroller 400 indicates on the first port P1 that a vend has beenpaid for, and determines how the 10 units of change should be dispensed.For example, if the microcontroller 400 detects that 50 pence coins arepresent in one of the coin tubes of the changer 110, one coin isdispensed from that tube. If change cannot be given to the exact valueof overpayment, the microcontroller 400 controls the dispensing of coinsas near as possible below the value of the overpayment.

As the second port P2 provides an MDB bus connection B, an additionalchange dispensing unit may be connected to the second port P2 inaddition to a bill validator or card reader, and the microcontroller 400interrogates the devices connected to the second port P2 to determinetheir type. For example, a Euro coin dispenser may be connected to thesecond port P2 and the microcontroller 400 may operate in a mode inwhich change is dispensed in Euros. The Euro coin dispenser communicatesin units of 5 cents (100 cents=1 Euro). Therefore, instead of dispensinga 50 pence coin as in the example above, the microcontroller 400 signalsto the Euro coin dispenser to dispense 14 units, which is the equivalentof 50 pence rounded down to the nearest whole number of units.

Further details of the changer of the changer 110 are illustrated inFIG. 3. The changer comprises a coin validator 200, a coin separator 205and a coin storage region 207. The coin validator 200 receives insertedcoins 210 through an opening 215. The coin 210 travels along ramp 220 inthe coin validator 200 past sensors such as those shown at 225. Suitablearrangements for sensors 225 include those described in GB 1 397 083, GB1 443 934, GB 2 254 948 and GB 2 094 008 which are hereby incorporatedby reference. The electrical signals generated by the sensors 225contain information corresponding to the measured characteristics of thecoin, such as a coin's diameter, thickness, metal content andelectromagnetic properties. Based on these electrical signals, themicrocontroller 400 is able to discriminate whether the coin isacceptable, and if so, the denomination of the coin 210.

If the coin 210 is unacceptable, the microcontroller 400 controls a gate235 to direct the unacceptable coin 210 to a reject chute 240. In thealternative, acceptable coins 210 are directed to the coin separator 205by the gate 235. The coin separator 205 may have a number of gates 245,247, 249, 251 arranged along a ramp 253 and also controlled by signalsfrom the microcontroller 400, for diverting the coin 210 from the ramp253. The coin 210 may be diverted into respective containers 262, 264,266 and 268, or the coin 210 may be allowed to proceed along ramp 253 toa path 258 leading to a cash box.

Each of the containers 262, 264, 266 and 268 is in the form of a cointube arranged to store a vertical stack of coins of a particulardenomination. Although only four containers are shown, any number may beprovided.

The coin tubes are arranged within a removable cassette 269; suchremovable cassettes are well known in the art. As an example, aremovable cassette is described in GB 2 246 897 A, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference. The removable cassette is markedwith a code, which indicates the denominations that are accommodated bythe tubes within the cassette. The code is input using the keypad 90 onthe changer 110 to inform the mechanism which cassette and tubes havebeen installed. Alternatively, the design may be such that the mechanismautomatically recognises the type of cassette when it is inserted, orelse the information could be provided remotely, or on a card.

The changer 110 may alternatively use passive routing techniques, suchas those well known in the vending machine art, instead of the gates245-251 for diverting the coin 210 from the ramp 253. Examples ofsuitable alternative configurations for the coin separator 205 aredescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,844,297 and 4,106,610, which are herebyincorporated by reference.

A dispenser 270 associated with the coin tubes 262-268 is operable todispense coins from the containers when change is to be given to acustomer by the changer 110, under the control of the outputs O from themicrocontroller 400. The dispensed coins are delivered to the coinreturn 80 for collection. Suitable dispensers 270 include thosedescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,814,115 and 4,367,760, which are herebyincorporated by reference. An alternative configuration may use, insteadof the changer 110, a coin mechanism that does not pay out change. Insuch a configuration, a separate pre-loaded coin pay out device, such asthose well known in the gaming machine art, may be used to pay outchange.

A specific application of an embodiment of the invention is describedbelow with reference to a vending machine, but this is not intended tobe a limitation on the application of this invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a vending machine 1 which contains a variety ofproducts 10 to be dispensed which are stored in an area inaccessible tocustomers, such as behind a glass panel. Each product 10 is retained bya product delivery apparatus 20 which is selectively actuable todispense the product into a delivery area 30 that is accessible to thecustomer. Suitable product delivery apparatus 20 includes vend motorsand solenoids as well as others well known in the art. Examples of suchapparatus include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,458,187 and4,785,927, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

A control panel 40 of the vending machine 1 contains a coin slot 50 anda banknote or bill insert slot 60 which accept currency to initiate avend operation. The control panel 40 further contains the card acceptor70 to enable customers to initiate a transaction with a credit or debitcard. In addition, an electronic purse device in the form of a card maybe inserted into the card acceptor 70 to initiate a transaction. Theterm “electronic purse device” is used herein to denote a token or cardpossessing an electronic circuit, a magnetic strip or other data storingmedium or circuitry, for retaining a credit value. An electronic pursedevice may be in one of a variety of shapes, including a key or coin, aswell as a card. Such devices may be used as currency in a variety ofconventional automatic transaction systems.

A coin return 80, a bill pay out recess 85 and an item selector such asa keypad 90 are also provided in the control panel 40. A display 95 onthe control panel 40 provides instructions and information to thecustomer. Suitable displays 95 include dot-matrix displays, selectivelyactivatable message lights, an electronic scrolling message, or otherdisplays capable of operating in the environmental conditions to whichautomatic transaction systems are typically exposed.

A customer may initiate a transaction by depositing coins or bills ofparticular denominations in the slots 50 or 60, respectively. Thecustomer may also insert an electronic purse device, or a debit orcredit card in the card acceptor 70 to initiate a transaction. Oncesufficient payment has been deposited in the automatic transactionsystem 1, the customer may select a product 10 to be dispensed using thekeypad 90. The corresponding product delivery apparatus 20 will thendispense the selected product 10 to the product delivery area 30 whereit may be retrieved by the customer. Any resulting change from thetransaction may be paid out through a coin return 80, the bill pay outrecess 85 or credited to an inserted electronic purse device.

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway side view, not drawn to scale, of thevending machine 1 of FIG. 4 showing a typical component layout along thecontrol panel 40. Money acceptors, such as a bill validator 100 and achanger 110, are attached to the rear of the control panel 40 adjacentthe bill insert and coin slots 60 and 50, respectively. The changer 110is connected to the coin return 80 and to a coin passageway 117 leadingto the coin slot 50. The bill validator 100 is connected to a billstacker 105. The changer 110 and bill validator 100 are capable ofdiscriminating coins and bills respectively.

A bill escrow and pay out unit 115 is positioned adjacent the bill payout recess 85 and is connected to the bill validator 100. The billescrow and pay out unit 115 is capable of dispensing bills as changethrough the bill pay out recess 85. The bill validator 100 may divertdeposited acceptable bills to the bill escrow and pay out unit 115 toreplenish its supply of bills for change. Suitable bill escrow and payout units 115 include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,441, aswell as others well-known in the art. The cash box 120 is also includedin the vending machine 1.

The keypad 90 and display 95 are connected to the vend controller 130 bycommunication lines 140. The controller 130 is further connected to datainput/output devices 135, such as DIP switches 150, a keypad 160, aninput/output port 170 and a display 180 to facilitate entering andupdating of operating data and servicing of the vending machine 1. Thecomponents disposed behind the control panel 40 are not accessible tocustomers of the vending machine 1 and may only be accessed by servicepersonnel.

The first port P1 of the changer is connected to the vend controller 130by the communication line C. The card acceptor 70, bill escrow and payout unit 115, and bill validator 100 are not connected directly to thevend controller 130, but are connected to the second port P2 of thechanger 110 via the bus connectors B. The changer 110 is arranged toreceive various items of information received on the second port P2 fromthe bill validator 100, bill escrow and pay out unit 115 and cardacceptor 70, and to pass this information, either as received or inmodified form, to the controller 130. In particular, each time anacceptable unit of money is validated by either the bill validator 100or the changer 110, a signal is sent to the vend controller 130 by thechanger 110 indicating the value of the received unit.

The changer 110 is also provided with data input/output devices 300,including a keypad 302, display 304, and DIP switches 306.

Any bill validator that is capable of discriminating uniquecharacteristics of bill denominations may be used as the bill validator100 of FIG. 5. Suitable bill validators 100 include those described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 4,628,194 and 5,222,584, which are hereby incorporated byreference.

The invention has been described in the context of coin validators, butit is to be noted that the term “coin” is employed to mean any coin(whether valid or counterfeit), token, slug, washer, or other metallicobject or item, and especially any metallic object or item which couldbe utilised by an individual in an attempt to operate a coin-operateddevice or system. A “valid coin” is considered to be an authentic coin,token, or the like, and especially an authentic coin of a monetarysystem or systems in which or with which a coin-operated device orsystem is intended to operate and of a denomination which suchcoin-operated device or system is intended selectively to receive and totreat as an item of value.

An embodiment has been described above with reference to a changer 110having first and second ports P1 and P2. This type of device isadvantageous because it provides in a single unit the commonly requiredfunctions of accepting payment and giving change in the form of coins.However, in other embodiments, other types of money handling unit may beprovided with first and second ports P1 and P2 with analogous functionsto those of the changer 110.

The described embodiment uses the MDB protocol over the second port P2,but other protocols may be used within the scope of the presentinvention. Likewise, other protocols in addition to or instead of theExecutive, BDV, Electromechanical and MDB protocols may be implementedover the first port P1.

What is claimed is:
 1. A first device for handling money, including thatfacilitates communications between an external controller and a furthermoney handling device, the first device for handling money comprising: amoney handling apparatus; an internal controller in the money handlingapparatus for controlling the money handling apparatus; a first port forremovable connection to an the external controller so as to couple theexternal controller to the internal controller for communication withthe internal controller; and a second port for removable connection to athe further money handing device for handling money; wherein theinternal controller is arranged to communicate over the second portdirectly with the further money handling device using a communicationsprotocol that is not fully supported over the first port; and whereinthe communications protocol enables supports communication between theinternal controller and any one each of at least first and seconddifferent types of device for handling money money handling devices, thefirst type handling money of a different type from those handled by thesecond type, the first device for handling money being arranged suchthat communications between the external controller and the furthermoney handling device are relayed by the internal controller.
 2. Adevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second types ofdevice are different members of a group consisting of a banknotevalidator and a card reader.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 1,wherein the group further consists of first and second types of deviceare different members of a group consisting of a banknote validator, acard reader and a coin dispenser.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the communications protocol is a bus-oriented protocol.
 5. Adevice as claimed in claim 4, wherein the communications protocol is anMDB protocol.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internalcontroller is arranged to distinguish between said first and second typetypes of device for handling money money handling devices by a codereceived from said further money handling device over said second port.7. A method of communication for a first money handling apparatus,including: communicating with an external controller over a first portof the first money handling apparatus, and communicating directly with afurther money handling apparatus over a second port of the first moneyhandling apparatus by means of a communications protocol supportingcommunication with any each one of at least first and second differenttypes of device for handling money, the first type handling money of adifferent type from that handled by the second type, wherein thecommunications protocol is not fully supported over the first port.
 8. Afirst device for handling money, including that facilitatescommunications between an external controller and a further moneyhandling device, the first device for handling money comprising: a moneyhandling apparatus; an internal controller in the money handlingapparatus for controlling the money handling apparatus; a first port forremovable connection to an the external controller so as to couple theexternal controller to the internal controller for communication withthe internal controller; and a second port for removable connection to athe further money handling device for handling money for directcommunication with the internal controller according to a communicationsprotocol not fully supported by the first port; the first device forhandling money being arranged such that communication between theexternal controller and the further money handling device are relayed bythe internal controller, wherein the internal controller is arranged tocopy the content of signals between the first port and the second portwithout modification thereof.
 9. A device as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe content of all signals received on said first port is output withoutmodification as signals on said second port and the content of allsignals received on said second port is output without modification onsaid first port.
 10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein arrangedsuch that the content of some of the signals received on the second portis modified prior to output on said first port.
 11. A device as claimedin claim 10, wherein arranged such that said signals, the content ofwhich is modified, includes signals characteristic of the further moneyhandling device and not recognisable by said external controller.
 12. Adevice as claimed in claim 8, wherein the internal controllerimplements, on both said first and second ports, a bus-orientedcommunications protocol.
 13. A device as claimed in claim 8, whereinarranged such that said signals are stored in memory prior to output.14. A method of communication for a first money handling apparatus,including: communicating with an external controller over a first portof the first money handling apparatus; and communicating directly with afurther money handling apparatus over a second port of the first moneyhandling apparatus according to a communications protocol not fullysupported by the first port; wherein the content of signals is copiedbetween said first and second ports without modifications.
 15. A firstdevice for handling money, including; that facilitates communicationsbetween an external controller and further money handling device, thefirst device for handling money comprising: a money handling apparatus;an internal controller in the money handling apparatus for controllingthe money handling apparatus; a first port for removable connection toan the external controller so as to couple the external controller tothe internal controller for communication with the internal controller;and a second port for removable connection to a the further moneyhandling device for handling money for direct communication with theinternal controller according to a communications protocol not fullysupported by the first port; wherein the internal controller is arrangedto convert between first units of value used for communications oversaid first port and second units of value used for communication oversaid second port.
 16. A device as claimed in claim 15, wherein theinternal controller is arranged to receive an indication of the value ofmoney received by said further money handling device in said secondunits, to convert said value to said further units, and to output datarepresenting said value in said first units on said first port.
 17. Adevice as claimed in claim 15, wherein the internal controller isarranged to receive a command including an indication of a value in saidfirst units on said first port, to convert said value to said secondunits, and to output a corresponding command including an indication ofsaid value in said second units on said second port.
 18. A device asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the internal controller is arranged todetermine a first value of money received by said money handlingapparatus, to receive an indication of a second value of money receivedby said further money handling device in said second units, and tocombine said first and second values as a combined value in a single setof units.
 19. A method of communication for a money handling device,including: communicating with an external controller via a first port ofthe money handling device, communicating directly with a further moneyhandling device via a second port of the money handling device accordingto a communications protocol not fully supported by the first port, andconverting between first units of value used for communication over saidfirst port and second units of value used for communication over saidsecond port.
 20. A first device for handling money, including thatfacilitates communications between an external controller and a furthermoney handling device, the first device for handling money comprising: amoney handling apparatus; an internal controller in the money handlingapparatus for controlling the money handling apparatus; a first port forremovable connection to an the external controller so as to couple theexternal controller to the internal controller for communication withthe internal controller; and a second port for removable connection to athe further money handling device for handling money for directcommunication with the internal controller according to a communicationsprotocol not fully supported by the first port; wherein the internalcontroller is arranged to receive a code indicative of the type of thefurther device on the second port, and to output in response thereto onthe first port an amended code representative to said externalcontroller of a type different from that of the further money handlingdevice.
 21. A method of communication for a first money handling device,including: communicating with an external controller via a first port ofthe first money handling device, communicating directly with a furthermoney handling device via a second port of the first money handlingdevice according to a communications protocol not fully supported by thefirst port, receiving a code indicative of the type of the furtherdevice on the second port, and outputting in response thereto on thefirst port an amended code representative to said external controller ofa type different from that of the further device.
 22. A device forhandling money, including: a money handling apparatus; an internalcontroller for controlling the money handling apparatus; and a pluralityof first ports each arranged for removable connection to an externalcontroller for communication with the internal controller; wherein theinternal controller is arranged to detect to which of said first portsthe external controller is connected and to communicate with theexternal controller using a communications protocol selected accordingto the detected one of the first ports.
 23. A method of operating amoney handling device having a plurality of ports each arranged forremovable connection to an external controller, including: detecting towhich of said ports the external controller is connected andcommunicating with the external controller using a communicationsprotocol selected according to the detected one of the ports.
 24. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the money handling apparatus comprises abanknote validator.
 25. The device of claim 1, wherein the moneyhandling apparatus is operable to return change.
 26. The device of claim8, wherein the money handling apparatus comprises a banknote validator.27. The device of claim 8, wherein the money handling apparatus isoperable to return change.
 28. The device of claim 15, where in themoney handling apparatus comprises a banknote validator.
 29. The deviceof claim 15, wherein the money handling apparatus is operable to returnchange.
 30. The device of claim 20, wherein the money handling apparatuscomprises a banknote validator.
 31. The device of claim 20, wherein themoney handling apparatus is operable to return change.
 32. A device asclaimed in any of the claim 1 or 8 wherein the internal controller isarranged to communicate over the second port using a different versionof a communications protocol supported by the first port.
 33. A deviceas claimed in any one of claims 1 or 8 wherein the internal controlleris arranged to communicate over the second port using a communicationsprotocol different from a communications protocol supported by the firstport.
 34. The method of any one of claims 7 or 14 includingcommunicating over the second port using a different version of acommunications protocol supported by the first port.
 35. The method ofany one of claims 7 or 14 including communicating over the second portusing a communications protocol different from a communications protocolsupported by the first port.
 36. A first device for handling money thatfacilitates communications between an external controller and a furthermoney handling device, the first device for handling money comprising: amoney handling apparatus; an internal controller in the money handlingapparatus for controlling the money handling apparatus; a first port forremovable connection to the external controller so as to couple theexternal controller to the internal controller for communication withthe internal controller; and a second port for removable connection tothe further money handling device, wherein the first and second ports donot have a common electrical connection for data transfer; wherein theinternal controller is arranged to communicate over the second portdirectly with the further device using a communications protocol; andwherein the communications protocol supports communication between theinternal controller and each one of the at least first and seconddifferent types of money handling device, the first type handling moneyof a different type from those handled by the second type.